Article dispensing device



Sept. 27, 1949. P. sETTEcAsl 2,483,352

ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l .Ewa- 15. .1

IN VEN TOR. f @5mt-@ASL P, SETTECASI ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE sept. 27, 1949.

`4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1948 Frh'2,

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HTTOZZZW Sept. 27, 1949. P. sETTEcAsl ARTICLE DISPENS ING DEVICE .4 .m t E m A a N0A E? m I m4@ mm pl 4 /f. P

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m m EL@ w. F" n Patented Sept. 27, 1949 UNITED LS TAT ES PATEN T OFF I2C E ARTICLE fDISPEN SING 4DEVICE .Peter Settecasi, New York,.N. Y.

ApplicationrMay 25, 1948,'Seral No. 29,151

12-Claims. 1

'This vinvention relates to .article .dispensing vdevices `.It is particularly directed ltoamachineifor Avendingcandy and the likearticles, in .whichthe `candy is stacked ona plurality-of hingedshelves, yone above .the other iin each chute, .the `arrangement 'being such that each time a .pull bar is 4operated, the lowermost @horizontal .shelf .drops down to Ivertical position to permit the lcandy :or futher yarticle .thereon to drop to .dispensing .position.

An object of this invention .is vto provide an .article dispensing device of .the .character described, including a flatch pivoted .for .rotation with each fshelf, a .fixed member engageable .hy fall of the latches when the v.shelves are in :hori- :zontal lposition, `a vertical slidable :member and :pawl `means 'thereon Vto successively .release :the :latches :as said slidable :member :is reciprocated for successively dropping the shelves .from Ithe `bottom upwardineach chute.

.Stil1 another object .of -this Ainvention `is -to1provide in va `device vof the character described, zmean's .to .prevent i operation of :the dispensingbar o't #each chute .when said .chute fhas vbeen fully emptied.

Yet another object of this invention-is to prolvide a strong, rugged and durable machinefo'f the character described, which shall be'relativelyiin- .expensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, :which shall ibe sure and .positive'vin operation and wwhich shall yet be lpractical and ecienttoa high degreein use.

r@ther Vobjects of this invention will in part be -obviousand in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly -consists in the fea- --ltures of construction, combinations-of-elements, :and arrangement of part-s, which will be exlempliied in the construction hereinafter described, andof which Vthe scope of rinventionwill be indicated inthe following claims:

In the accompanying drawings -in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. lis aperspective View of a .d'ispensingdevice embodying the invention; Y

Fig..2 lis a front elevational view thereof with .parts Ibrokenaway and in cross-section;

Fig. 3 :is a side .elevational view .thereof with parts broken away land in :cross-section;

Fig. 4 .is a cross-sectional View, taken on .line .l1-4.0i Fig. .3;

Fig. 5-.is an Venlargedpartial viewfof thestruc- Vzture,'.shownginFig. 4,;

-one above vthe other within yeach chute 22.

bodying .the invention. The -same .comprises =an outer casing having. side walls 12, top .wall '.l 3,:and tfront lower wall 114, arearwardly extending horizontal wall .iiratthe upperend of the front .w'all t4, and an upper front wall SIE. At thebottomfo'f .wall .14 is a dispensing chamber l1.

"Withinrthe lcasing isa chute structure compris- .inga back wall 20 from which extends forwardly vertical partitions 22! ydividing the structure intoa .plurality of vertical columnsor chutes 22. 'Each .partitioniZi is formed with a `'front vertical flange Extending through the back wall 20 and the .flange 23 .and j'ournalled for rotation o'n each chute are' a -plurality of horizontal, vertically spaced shafts i211. `Fixed to each shaft 24 for roftation'therewith and disposed within-chute @22 is a shelf '25. 'The shelves 25 may move 'from horizontalto'vertic'al position. The shelves-are spaced The shelves' extend across vvthe chutes and articles to be Vended are placed thereon. Means is provided =for` rst dropping the lowermost shelf in any chute upon operating a dispensing mechanism for' -said chute. When said mechanism is again operatedthe next higher shelf drops and so-'on runtil all the shelves have dropped in any chute.

the candy is dropped first from the lowermost shelf andy vthen from successively higher shelves, aswill'appear hereinafter. To this end, fthere -is 'slid'ably mounted within said device and below each chute -a horizontal bar 28. Attached to the forward end of `each bar 28, by means of -pin .28`ais an draw bar 29, which is provided with a handle 30 at-its forward end projecting through asuitable opening in front wall lll. Any suitable `structure 'may be provided for supporting each 'bar 12B-and its draw'bar 29 for horizontal sliding movement forward and backward.

Attached lto Aeach draw lbar 29 a-nd 'extending J ournalled Ato serve as a guide for said carrier. .carrier 41 may also be guided by a guide member Mounted on the ends of said shaft are a pair of links 33 interconnected by a horizontal shaft 34 parallel to shaft 32 and engaged by the hooks 3|. Pivoted to one of the links 33 as at 33a. is a link 35, which may be connected to any suitable coin controlled mechanism for locking shaft 34 against movement unless a proper coin is inserted into the machine. The bar 28 is formed in its upper edge adjacent its forward end with a notch or groove 3S for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Each bar 28 is furthermore formed at its rear end and at its upper side with a notch 31. The notch 31 has a front sharp shoulder 38 and a gradually inclined edge 39 extending therefrom. The edge 39 is inclined upwardly and rearwardly. Fixed to each bar 28 adjacent the rear upper end of inclined edge 39 is a pin 40, carrying a roller 4 It will be understood that when the proper coin is inserted into the machine, the handle may be grasped and the draw bar 29 pulled forwardly and then released, suitable spring means being provided for retracting the draw bar.

As will be seen hereinafter, means is provided to cause a shelf to drop when the draw bar is retracted. To this end, there is xed to the rear wall 20 a vertical guide member 43 aligned with each chute. Each member 43 is formed with a horizontal offset arm 44 at its upper end. Attached to said arm 44 is a shock absorber 45.

lSlidably mounted relative to each guide 43 is a vertical pawl carrier 41. Guide 43 may be provided with a headed pin 5|! passing through a suitable slot 5| in wall 52 of the pawl carrier 52a adjacent the lower end of each chute and also fixed to the back wall and carrying a headed .pin 53 passing through slot 54 in wall 52 of said pawl carrier. Each pawl carrier 41 has a wall 55 parallel to the back wall 20. Pivoted to said wall are a plurality of vertically spaced pawls 56. Each pawl 56 is pivoted on a pivot pin 51 at its lower end. Each pawl furthermore has an oiset ange 58 for the purposes hereinafter appearing. .i

Fixed to the back wall 20 and associated with each chute is a wall E0 formed with an offset flange 6|. Wall 6| is formed with a plurality of vertical slots 62. There is one slot for each shaft 24 except the top shaft. Fixed to each shaft 24 and disposed rearwardly of wall 6|) is a lever 65. Pivoted to each lever as on pivot pin 66 is a latch member 61. Members 65 and 61 are formed with apertured ears 65a and 61a interconnected by coil tension spring 68. When any shelf is in horizontal position, its latch 61 passes through slot 52 and engages the lower edge of said slot for retaining the latch against disengagement with wall 6|. The top latch engages the top edge of flange 6|. Spring 68 normally biases members 65 and 61 together, but permits relative movement therebetween. When the pawl carrier 41 is in its up position contacting the shock absorber 45, the flanges 58 of pawls 56 Contact their respective latches S1, Moreover, when said pawl carrier is in its up position, each flange 58 overlaps the latch B1 thereabove, but is restrained from engaging said latch by the latch associated therewith. However, should the pawl carrier be pulled down, the lowermost pawl will move to a position below the lowermost latch 61. When that happens, the lowermost pawl will drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 5 Where it will be directly beneath the lowermost latch 61. When the pawl carrier is thereafter The pawl 'f raised, the lowermost pawl will engage the lowermost latch and rotate the same in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 5, to disengage said latch from wall 6|, and due to the weight of the shelf and particularly with a piece of candy or other article thereon, will cause the shelf to drop thereby moving latch 61 and its associated member 65 to the position shown in Fig. 6 where the shelf has dropped down to a vertical position causing the piece of candy or article thereon to drop down to the dispensing chamber.

Resilient means is provided for raising the pawl carrier 41 should said pawl carrier be depressed and then released. To this end, the pawl carrier 41 is interconnected to a xed post on the chute by coil tension spring 10.

Means is provided to lower each pawl carrier each time the draw bar associated therewith is retracted after said draw bar has been pulled forwardly. To this end, there is iixed at the rear of wall 20 and adjacent its lower end and above the bars 28 a horizontal shaft 1|. Hinged to shaft 1| and associated with each chute is a rocking member 12 having parallel flanges 13 and 14 and interconnected by wall 15 parallel to the shaft. Wall 15 is connected to the back wall by a coil compression spring 16 which tends to rotate said member in a counterclockwise direction looking at Fig. 3 of the drawing. On wall 15 is a roller 11 which overlies a foot 18 at the lower end of the pawl carrier 41. On said wall 13 is an offset nger BD, which projects down into notch 31. When the draw bar is pulled forwardly member 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 3 of the drawing, from the full to the dotted line positions on Fig. 8. During such movement, spring 16 is tensioned and the bottom roller 11 is merely raised above the foot 18 of the pawl carrier 41, and said pawl carrier is unaected. However, when the draw bar is retracted, roller 4| will engage the nger 8c and rotate member 12 in a counterclockwise direction, from the full line position of Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9, and roller 11 will depress the pawl carrier 41 and move the same from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, permitting the lowermost pawl to drop below the lowermost latch. As soon as the roller 4| is past the ringer in the retracting movement 'of the draw bar, springV 10 will raise the pawl latch, then as the pawl carrier again lifts next to the lowest latch is disengaged from wall 6|, so that next to the lowest shelf drops by gravity. When the action is repeated, the shelves in each chute operated drop successively from the bottom upward.

Means is provided to lock each draw bar against movement when all of the shelves in said chute have dropped, to a vertical position. To this end, there is pivoted to a `front wall at the lower end of each chute, as on pivot 9|, a member 92 formed with a finger 93 aligned with the notch or groove 38 on bar 28 for said chute. Means is provided to retain member 92 in raised position while the topmost shelf in the chute is in horizontal position so that the linger 93 will not enter notch 36. To this end, each member 2 is .formed .with an `oiset dinger ASlii. :Gonnected .to lfinger S one eend .-9,6 .of :a .wire ;rod 9.1 -whichfextends lupwardly .within the chute-and has at -its -upper fend, .an offset :linger &8..engag ing fthe topmcst :shelf 25. While fthe :topmost shelf i .is .in :raised or .hnrizontal position, .it retains .member 92 `in :raised position. fHowever, when the topmostshelf drops, member 9.1 Awill drcm and fmember 92 will :rotate .about pivot .Sil so that the vfinger '.93 .enters notch 36 :to ,prevent the .draw bar `vassociated with that particular chuteirom being further operable.

After .all the shelves in achutehavedropped, they .can -be .raised :successively .from .the bottom upwardly :and as each shelf .is iraised, :its .-latch will-engage wall 1.6L When vall the shelves have been raised, all .of the latches will -be .in engagement with .wall .6l :and .the .shelves will remain in horizontal position, until further dropped in a .manner .hereinbefore explained.

While :the .mechanism .has been .explained .for one .chute .22, .it A.will be -understood ithat .the mechanism .is the same Afor each chute for controlling the-shelves.

-It `.will thus .be .seen `.that .there is provided .a device in which .the several objects of this invention are :achieved .and `.which is `.well adapted tc -ineet the conditionsof practical use.

As .various ,possible .embodiments might be made of -the .above invention, and as various changes .might-be -Inade-.the embodiment above set.forth, it is `to .be -Yunderstood that all matter hereinsetforth v.onshown in the accompanying drawings, .is 1:0.be interpreted as illustrative and not .,inaflimiting sense.

.Having .thus described my invention, I claim as .'newand ,desire to protect by .Letters Patent:

1.1m an article .dispensing device, a chute, a plurality of .vertically spaced shelves pivoted about horizontal, vertically. aligned parallel axles, a,latch associated Witheach axle, a xed wall having .portions engageable by said latches, .a vertically slidable pawl carrier, a ,plurality of pawls .pivoted tosaid pawl carrier, .there beinga pawlassociated with eachdatch, the .upper endof each .pawloverlapping .the .lower-end of `the latch associated therewith .when .the pawl carrier .is in .its .raised position, .and the upper-end ofeach pawl .being adapted .to vmove .below .the ,lower-.end of .its latch .when .the pawl carrier is depressed, each `.pawl above .the .lowermost pawl .b.eing.engaged Vby the .latch below vthe .latch .associated therewith and being retained .thereby against pivotable .movement when the pawl carrier is depressed, and Asaid lowermost `pawl adapted to rotate `to a .position below its latch when said pawl carrier vis depressed .and said lowermost pawl being adapted .to .disengage its latch when saidpawlcarrier is raised afterbeing depressed, to allow .the lowermost shelf to drop, and wherebyeach .time thepawlcarrieris -again depressedand raised, .the next higher latch .will be .disengaged andthe shelf associated therewith will drop.

.2. .In an article dispensing device, .a chute, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves pivoted about-horizontal, vertically aligned parallel axles, a.latch.associated with each axle, a xed wall having portions engageable by said latches, a .vertically slidable kpawl carrier, a plurality of pawls pivoted `to said pawl carrier, there being ajpawl z associated Withreach latch, the dapper-:end of each pawl overlapping the .lower .end .of the latch associated therewith when the 4pawl carrier is in :its raised position, :and the `aipper end of each Ipawlgibeing .adapted .to :move below .the lower eend of :its latch when the -,.pawl carrier is depressed, .eachgpawl Aabove .the `lowermostpavvl being engagedptby .the latch :below :the :latch associated .therewith .and abeing retained thereby against pivctable movement when .the pawl carrier is depressed, and :said :lowermost pawl :being adapted .to .rotate `to `a position below .its .'latch when -said .pawl carrier .is depressed and :said lnwermost ,pawl .being .adapted .to disengage -its latch yiwhen @said pawl is raised .after .being .depressed, `to .allow the .lowermost shelf lto drop, and whereby teach .time :the `pawl vcarrier is zagain depressed and raised, the .next higher ilatch will be disengaged and lthe ishelf 4.associated therewith will drop, a `reciprocable drawibar, iand :means to cause .said .pawl carrier to .be depressed :and raised each I:time .said .draw `bar `is reciprocated.

.3. In .an article Adispensing device, achute, ,a plurality .of vertically spaced .shelves pivoted about.horizontal, vertically alignednparallel axles, a .latch Iassociated .with -each axle, a :fixed 'wall having ,portions .engageable l.by .said latches, a vertically slidable pawl carrier, a plurality of pawls ,.pivoted .to said pawl carrier, there -being a Tpawl g-associated with each latch, .-the .upper end of each pawl overlapping the r.lower .end -of -the latch associated .therewith .when the fria-villl carrier is .in .its Vraised position, .-and the upper yend fof eachgpawl .beingadapted .tomove f below the .lower end ,of .its .latch when zthe ,pawl .carrier is .depressed, .each .pawl `.above .the vlowermost pawl being engaged by :the .latch .below .the 4latch assocated .therewith and -being retained thereby against ,pivotable movement .when the .pawl `carrer .is .depressed .and said lowermost ,pawl being adapted .to rotate .to a position ,below .its latch .when .said pawl carrier is .depressed and said lowermost .pawl -being .adapted to .disengage .its latch whensaid ,pawl .is ,raised after .being -depressed, l.to .allow the Alowerinost shelf to drop, and w'herehy `each .time .the ,pawlcarrier .is .again depressed and raised, the next .higher llatch Vwill be .disengaged 4vand .the .shelf associated therewith will drop, a reciprocable .draw bar, .means to cause said pawl carrieritobe depressed and raised each 'time said draw .har .is .reciprocated, and means to prevent ,movement of the ,draw bar when'.thetopmostshelfdrops.

4. TIn 'an .article dispensing device, a chute, a plurality of verticallyspaced shelves pivoted about horizontal, vertically aligned .parallel axles, .a `latch-associated with eachaxle, a xed wall having portions engageable by Asaid latches, a vertically .slidable pawl carrier, .a .plurality of pawls pivoted to .said .pawl carrier, .there .being a .pawl .associated .with eachlatch, theupper endof each pawl .overlapping the lowerend of the latchiassoc'iated 'therewith when the .pawl .carrier is in its raised position, .and .the .upper .end of each pawl being adapted 'to move below the lower endof its latch .when the pawl carrier .is depressed, each -pawl aabove the jlowermost .pawl .being engaged by lihehtthlbelow.thellatch associated therewithand being retained lthereby vagainst .pivotable move- ,mentwhen .thepawl carrier is depressed, and said 'lowermostfpawl .beingadaptedtorotate to a, posi- .tionlie'low its.latch when said pawlfcarrier isde- ,pressedandsaidlowermostpawl .being adaptedto .disengage .its .latch whensaid .pawl is .raised after `being depressed, to -allow `the lowermostishelf .to drop, .and .whereby each time .the pawlcarrier ,fis again .depressed fandraised, vthe nexthigher latch will.be-sdisengagedgandatheshelf associated therewith will drQp, sa .reciprocabledraw bar, -means .to

cause said pawl carrier to be depressed and raised each time said draw bar is reciprocated, and means to prevent movement of the draw bar when the topmost shelf drops, each latch comprising a member-fixed for rotation with the shelf, a member pivoted to the rst member, and a spring interconnecting said members.

5. In a dispensing device, a plurality `of parallel horizontal axles disposed in a common vertical plane, a shelf xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a lever fixed to each axle for rotation therewith, a latch pivoted to each lever about a pivot parallel to and spaced from its axle, spring tension means interconnecting each lever with its latch to normally cause each latch to rotate in one direction relative to its lever, a vertical fixed wall formed with edge portions engageable by said latches, a vertical pawl carrier mounted for vertical sliding movement, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there beingV one pawl for eachlatch, an upper end of each pawl normally overlapping its latch, and each pawl being engageable by the latch below the latch associated therewith, spring means to raise the pawl carrier, and means to lower the pawl carrier to a point where the upper end of each pawl is below the lower end of its latch.

6. In a dispensing device,'a plurality of parallel horizontal axles disposed in a common vertical plane, a shelf xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a lever xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a latch pivoted to each lever about a pivot parallel to and spaced from its axle, spring tension means interconnecting each lever with its latch to normally cause each latch to rotate in one direction relative to its lever, a vertical xed wallV formed with edge portions engageable by said latches, a vertical pawl carrier mounted for vertical sliding movement, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being one pawl for each latch, an upper end of each pawl normally overlapping its latch, and each pawl being engageable by the latch below the latch associated therewith, spring means to raise the pawl carrier and means to lower the pawl carrier to a point where the upper end of each pawl is below the lower end of its latch, said means comprising a sliding draw bar, a bell crank pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm engaging a foot on the pawl carrier, a draw bar having means to engage another arm of the bell crank for rotating the bell crank when the draw bar is pulled in one direction for moving the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier away from the pawl carrier and said draw bar being adapted to rotate the bell crank in an opposite direction when the draw bar is retracted to cause the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier to depress the pawl carrier.

7. In a dispensing device, a plurality of parallel horizontal axles disposed in a common vertical plane, a shelf iixed to each axle for rotation therewith, a lever fixed to each axle for rotation therewith, a latch pivoted to each lever about a pivot parallel to and spaced from its axle, spring tension means interconnecting each lever with its latch. to normally cause each latch to rotate in one direction relative to its lever, a vertical fixed wall formed with edge portions engageable by said latches, a vertical pawl carrier mounted for vertical sliding movement, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being one pawl for each latch, an upper end of each pawl normally overlapping its latch, and each pawl being engageable by the latch below the latch associated therewith, spring meansto raise the pawl carrier and means to lower the pawl carrier to a point where the upper end of each pawl is below the lower end of its latch, said means comprising a sliding draw bar, a bell crank pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm engaging a-foot on the pawl carrier, a draw bar having means to engage another arm of the bell crank for rotating the bell crank when the draw bar is pulled in one direction for moving the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier away from the pawl carrier and said draw bar being adapted to rotate the bell crank in an opposite direction when the draw bar is retracted to cause the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier to depress the pawl carrier, and spring means for rotating said bell crank in a direction for retaining its rst arm in engagement with said foot of said pawl carrier.

8. In a dispensing device, a plurality of parallel horizontal axles disposed in a common Vertical plane, a shelf xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a lever xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a latch pivoted to each lever about a pivot parallel to and spaced from its axle, spring tension means interconnecting each lever with its latch to normally cause each latch to rotate in one direction relative to its lever, a vertical xed wall formed with edge portions engageable by said latches, a vertical pawl carrier mounted for vertical sliding movement, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being one pawl for each latch, an upper end of each pawl normally overlapping its latch, and each pawl being engageable by the latch below the latch associated therewith, spring means to raise the pawl carrier and means to lower the pawl carrier to a point where the upper end of each pawl is below the lower end of its latch, said means comprising a sliding draw bar, a bell crank pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm engaging a foot on the pawl carrier, a draw bar having means to engage another arm of the bell crank for rotating the bell crank when the draw bar is pulled in one direction for moving the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier away from the pawl carrier and said draw bar being adapted to rotate the bell crank in an opposite direction when the draw bar is retracted to cause the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier to depress the pawl carrier, and means controlled by the topmost shelf to retain the draw bar against movement.

9. In a dispensing device, a plurality of parallel horizontal axles disposed in a common vertical plane, a shelf xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a lever xed to each axle for rotation therewith, a latch pivoted to each lever about a pivot parallel to and spaced from its axle, spring tension means interconnecting each lever with its latch to normally cause each latch to rotate in one direction relative to its lever, a verticai iixed wall formed with edge portions engageable by said latches, a vertical pawl carrier mounted for vertical sliding movement, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being one pawi for each latch, an upper end of each pawl normally overlapping its latch, and each pawl being engageable by the latch below the latch associated therewith, spring means to raise the pawl carrier and means to lower the pawl carrier to a point where the upper end of each pawl is below the lower end of its latch, said means comprising a sliding draw bar, a bell crank pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm engaging a foot on the pawl carrier, a

9 draw bar having means to engage another arm of the bell crank for rotating the bell crank when the draw bar is pulled in one direction for moving the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier away from the pawl carrier and said draw bar being adapted to rotate the bell crank in an opposite direction when the draw bar is retracted to cause the arm which engages the foot on the pawl carrier to depress the pawl carrier, and means controlled by the topmost shelf to retain the draw bar against movement, said movement comprising a pivoted member, means associated with the topmost shelf to normally raise the pivoted member and permitting said pivoted member to engage a notch in the draw bar when the topmost shelf drops.

10. In an article dispensing device, a chute, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves pivoted about horizontal, vertically aligned parallel axles, a latch associated with each axle, a iixed wall having portions engageable by said latches, a vertically slidable pawl carrier, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being a pawl associated with each latch, the upper end of each pawl overlapping the lower end of the latch associated therewith when the pawl carrier is in its raised position, and the upper end of each pawl being adapted to move below the lower end of its latch when the pawl carrier is depressed, each pawl above the lowermost pawl being engaged by the latch below the latch associated therewith and being retained thereby against pivotable movement when the pawl carrier is depressed, and said lowermost pawl being adapted to rotate to a position below its latch when said pawl carrier is depressed and said lowermost pawl being adapted to disengage its latch when said pawl is raised after being depressed, to allow the lowermost shelf to drop, and whereby each time the pawl carrier is again depressed and raised, the next higher latch will be disengaged and the shelf associated therewith will drop, a reciprocable draw bar, and means to cause said pawl carrier to be depressed and raised each time said draw bar is reciprocated, said means comprising a pivoted member having an arm disposed over a foot on the pawl carrier, means to raise said arm above the foot when the draw bar is pulled, and means to depress said arm when said draw bar is retracted so that said arm will depress said foot and said pawl carrier.

l1. In an article dispensing device, a chute, a pluraiity of vertically spaced shelves pivoted about horizontal, vertically aligned parallel axles, a latch associated with each axle, a xed wall having portions engageable by said latches, a vertically slidable pawl carrier, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being a pawl associated with each latch, the upper end of each pawl overlapping the lower end of the latch associated therewith when the pawl carrier is in its raised position, and the upper end of each pawl being adapted to move below the lower end of its latch when the pawl carrier is depressed, each pawl above the lowermost pawl being engaged by the latch below the latch associated therewith and being retained thereby against pivotable movement when the pawl carrier is depressed, and said lowermost pawl being adapted to rotate to a position below its latch when said pawl carrier is depressed and said lowermost pawl being adapted to disengage its latch when said pawl is raised after being depressed, to allow the lowermost shelf to drop, and whereby each time the pawl carrier is again depressed and raised, the next higher latch will be disengaged and the shelf associated therewith will drop a reciprocable draw bar, and means to cause said pawl carrier to be depressed and raised each time said draw bar is reciprocated, said means comprising a pivoted member having an arm disposed over a foot on the pawl carrier, means to raise said arm above the foot when the draw bar is pulled, and means to depress said arm when said draw bar is retracted so that said arm will depress said foot and said pawl carrier, and spring means to raise said pawl carrier.

12. In an article dispensing device, a chute, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves pivoted about horizontal, vertically aligned parallel axles, a latch associated with each axle, a fixed wall having portions engageable by said latches, a vertically slidable pawl carrier, a plurality of pawls pivoted to said pawl carrier, there being a pawl associated with each latch, the upper end of each pawl overlapping the lower end of the latch associated therewith when the pawl carrier is in its raised position, and the upper end of each pawl being adapted to move below the lower end of its latch when the pawl carrier is depressed, each pawl above the lowermost pawl being engaged by the latch below the latch associated therewith and being retained thereby against pivotable movement when the pawl carrier is depressed, and said lowermost pawl being adapted to rotate to a position ybelow its latch when said pawl carrier is depressed and said lowermost pawl being adapted to disengage its latch when said pawl is raised after being depressed, to allow the lowermost shelf to drop, and whereby each time the pawl carrier is again depressed and raised, the next higher latch will be disengaged and the shelf associated therewith will drop, a reciprocable draw bar, and means to cause said pawl carrier to ybe depressed and raised each time said draw bar is reciprocated, said means comprising a pivoted member having an arm disposed over a foot on the pawl carrier, means to raise said arm above the foot when the draw bar is pulled, and means to depress said arm when said, draw bar is retracted so that said arm will depress said foot and said pawl carrier, and spring means to urge said arm into contact with said foot.

PETER SETTECASI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 402,773 Simons May 7, 1889 1,330,540 Karck et al. Feb. 10, 1920 1,672,236 Varndell June 5, 1928 2,203,834 Mergens June 11, 1940 2,286,905 Gabrielson June 16, 1942 

